Cavs Send Jack to Nets, Clear Cap Space for LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers have cleared the neccessary cap space to sign LeBron James to a max deal, should he choose to return home.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Nets have agreed to take on the contracts of Jarrett Jack
and youngster Sergey Karasev from the Cavaliers in a swap that also will see the Celtics acquire Brooklyn's Marcus Thornton, Cleveland's Tyler Zeller and a protected 2016 first-round pick from the Cavaliers.
- ESPN

Original Story (6/21)
The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers are discussing a possible trade that would send Marcus Thornton to Cleveland and Jarrett Jack to Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is fearful that they will lose Shaun Livingston to free agency because of their salary cap situation. The Nets are so far into the luxury tax, that the best contract they can offer to Livingston is a three year deal, worth just over $10 million.

Livingston had a good season with Brooklyn last year, averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 26 minutes a game. He also shot 48% from the field. With that being said, there is a good chance that Livingston gets a more attractive contract from a team who can afford it.

Jarrett Jack would play the same role as Livingston did, backing up Deron Williams, or starting at shooting guard if Brooklyn goes with a smaller lineup. Jack has started in 283 games throughout his career so he would have no problem moving into the starting lineup as the teams primary point guard if Williams is out with an injury.

In 2013 Jack averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in a little over 28 minutes a game.

Acquiring Thornton would give the Cavs a scorer off the bench and a solid backup to Dion Waiters. Or the Cavs might look to trade Waiters who was the center of trade talks throughout all of last season. If Waiters is moved, Cleveland might go ahead and draft Andrew Wiggins with the number 1 pick and insert him into the starting lineup immediately.

The Nets traded for Marcus Thornton in the middle of last season from the Sacramento Kings. In 26 games for the Nets, Thornton averaged 12.3 points off the bench in just under 24 minutes.